Winthrop Estate Fountain, photo by Kevin Sprague

The weather in Lenox has been glorious this week.  The summer-like days bring warming sun to the daffodils and trees and they are blooming everywhere.  We uncovered our fountain, taking off the heavy winter tent, and we are into spring cleaning on the grounds, and getting tan too. We are looking forward to the families who will be coming for their vacations or special occasions this season and have been busy on email, being in touch with the guests to answer questions, and make plans and reservations.  Spring time brings a flurry of activity from everyone thinking about the summer.    Happy Spring!

The mark of a great respite, be it a week or weekend, is the sense of renewal you achieve. The Winthrop Estate is a place you will recharge your life batteries, rediscover your love for each other; it’s a place where you can suspend judgment and live in a dreamy state without interruption, where the most that is asked of you is to choose which entertainment you wish to enjoy.  Here you are not itinerant tourists, but pampered guests of the mansion.  Imagine having no interruptions, tasks, dishes, or lists– just the joy of vacation.

A Weekend with Friends, A Laugh, Some Music

Driving from NYC up to Winthrop Estate is a treat.  Once I leave the city traffic behind, I turn on the music and start to relax.  The journey becomes part of the destination. I drive alongside wide rivers, rushing streams, lush hillsides and farms. The trip itself is candy for the eyes. I revel in the journey.  The rewards of the weekend retreat with my friends are plentiful.  And Lenox, with all its history and luxuries, awaits me every time.  The Winthrop Estate rooms are exquisitely decorated and the public spaces are inviting. I treasure my retreat at the Winthrop Estate and look forward to next year’s.

Skiing in the Berkshires

Imagine the possibilities…after a day of skiing at one of the local ski resorts such as Butternut, Catamount or Jiminey Peak, you are mesmerized by the Berkshires beautiful mountain scenery.  You experience the excitement that comes with shushing down the mountainside with the snap of brisk air-  its a dream ski day.

After the invigorating day outdoors, there’s nothing more luxurious and inviting then returning to the Winthrop Estate where you options include slipping away into the sanctuary of a warm bath with candles softly glowing, a glass of your favorite wine and classical music in the background, a good book by the library fire and hot chocolate, a massage scheduled for eight o’clock to soothe your muscles– an hour of bliss.

A winter weekend at the Winthrop Estate, enjoying friends and family, is a magical, wonderful getaway… .you’ll remember it always.

The Christmas Tree at the Winthrop Estate

The whole family, all 24 of them, gathered in Lenox at the Winthrop Estate a few days before Christmas.  They brought bags of gifts for the kids and home-made cookies to share.  They made the estate their home for the holiday.  They sang Christmas carols, they enjoyed meals (that they didn’t have to cook or clean up after, as the estate took care of that), they stayed up late talking after the little ones went to bed upstairs.  The kids went sledding on the great lawn, and got dizzy on the tree swing, then came in for hot chocolate.  Most everyone enjoyed an afternoon nap, whether it was in their beds or a leather chair by the fire in the library after reading a book.  The Winthrop Estate is a magical place for families to enjoy each other over the holidays.

Library at the Winthrop Estate

On every weekend the estate is used, whether it’s a destination wedding, a family vacation, a retreat or a concert, people find their way to the Library, which is just off the foyer, to play board games, read by the fire, or enjoy a conversation.  Sometimes they listen to the tube-amplified MacIntosh radio with AudioResearch amps on AudioPhysic speakers, sitting in the soft leather chairs and sometimes they just watch their child enjoy himself.  Photo by Konrad Brattke

For a city wedding, you rent a function space for about five hours, invites guests for a meal and dancing, and the bride and groom and family spend time with their guests and celebrate for about five hours.  But when you plan a destination wedding, you plan a whole weekend, and everyone has a totally different experience. Most importantly, the bride and groom get to spend time with family and friends on Friday night, Saturday morning, afternoon and night, and Sunday morning. You can even plan for it to be longer than a week.

Destination weddings are all  about the people- your relationships.  A destination wedding gives everyone a vacation and more time to spend with each other. Isn’t that the purpose of having a wedding celebration after all? I think the most important and meaningful aspect of a wedding is being with friends and family and celebrating together.  The food and music are nice, and we couldn’t do without them, but the memories and the moments are created by and with the people, your friends and family.

A Whole New Experience
When you rent a private estate for a weekend, you get a large home to welcome and host your guests.  Friends stop by “your home” on Friday night as they get into town.  They enjoy a light meal (maybe a buffet), a drink and some time to catch up.  On Saturday, you might invite your guests for lemonade and Frisbee on “your lawn”, or a card game in your living room.  You might treat your bridal party to massages in “your massage room” or just spend time with friends on the couch.  Saturday afternoon you would enjoy a lovely ceremony (set up by the estate staff, you don’t have to lift a finger) and a delicious meal and dancing.  Unlike a function hall, you do not have to leave after the dancing.  Those who like to stay up late and talk can continue with the wedding energy and enjoy more social time in “your library or conservatory” with midnight sliders and milkshakes, or whatever you enjoy.  On Sunday, you have another opportunity to make memories and have meaningful conversations with your guests as you host a farewell brunch and again welcome guests into “your dining room” to enjoy your favorite foods.

The Advantages of choosing the Winthrop Estate

• You do not pay bar prices for your drinks.  You basically get to pay for all your alcohol at retail prices.
• You can choose your caterer, so it’s up to you whether  you want to make the menu simple or elaborate. Unlike fancy hotels, there are no food and beverage minimum fees at the Winthrop Estate.
• When you rent the Winthrop Estate, you get exclusive use of the estate (think privacy), use of 11 bedrooms for two nights, a venue to  can host the rehearsal dinner,  Saturday afternoon activities, a ceremony, a reception, and an after-party and farewell brunch without any extra fees.  The estate staff takes care of the event coordination, set up and the clean up. You don’t have to worry about a thing, and can focus all your attention to having a good time.
• You will not have a cookie-cutter wedding.  Each weekend wedding reflects the bride and groom’s personality and choices.  You can arrange for a wedding planner to do everything after consulting with you, or  you yourself can make decisions about all the details and tailor everything to suit your style and taste.

By choosing a destination wedding, you’ll find your self spending almost the same as a hotel wedding. But you’re guaranteed a special, incredible wedding experience.  You get a lot more time with your friends and family, and an incredible weekend full of memories to cherish forever. Who wouldn’t want that?